Author Langston Hughes, in his emotional heartfelt poem “Dreams” plays an important role in expressing the common experience of black people’s culture for which he is most remembered for. He has captured black people suffering as well as their laughter. He has displayed complicated emotions and aspirations (Hutchinson, 1995)
Authors, through their poems, refused the false beliefs of blackface and minstrel culture. Claude McKay in his poem, “if we must die” came up with dramatical political aspects that entail African themes such as cultural inheritance and present urban experiences. From the authors’ poems, African readers developed defiance to face racial segregation and countrywide racial riots and lynching which were happening during that period. In a nutshell, they described the contemporary life of African-American life in America.
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They led to many changes in the Harlem Renaissance. Many authors discussed the role of the Christian religion in the lives of African- Americans. For instance, a poem by Langston Hughes, “madam and the minister”, indicates moods and temperature as far as religion is concerned. They played a big role in religious criticism (Bremer, 1990)
There is an element of double-consciousness where the author expresses himself as an individual whose identity is divided into several facets. Black-Americans are forced to behave according to the social protocol of the whites and are supposed to live up to expectations of non-blacks.
They used imagery from the Bible as motivation to various artworks but with some elements of rebellion. Countee Cullen in “Heritage” poem shows the struggle from the inside of an African- American between his past African culture and the new Christian way of life.
There is the theme of ambition. The first line of Langston Hughes poem, “Dreams” says, ‘Hold fast to dreams’. Therefore, the author encourages the audience to remain determined and ambitious. He further explains the consequences of letting a dream die in the third line, ‘Life is a broken-winged bird’ he uses an example of broken wing bird to show what befalls the audience if they let their dream die( Hull, 1987)
Claude McKay in his poem, ‘If we must die’, expresses the theme of ambition as well. He says that, despite the fact that the ‘enemies’ outnumber the oppressed, the oppressed should show bravery. He further says that it is better to face the murderer.
The second theme is the theme of rebellion. In the poem, ‘If we must die’ the line number seven, ‘in vain; then even monsters we defy’ exemplifies this. Line number fourteen also states that ‘Pressed to the wall but fighting back!’ They both express rebellion. The author displays an inner struggle and calls for rebellion against certain oppressive forces. (McLeod, 1992).
The two lines are quite inspirational. They inspire me to remain brave and not to give in to my oppressors. Regardless of the mightiness of my oppressors, I should remain firm and fight back for my rights. They also encourage me to hold fast to my dreams and never to let them go. If I let my dream die, then, I will be like a broken-winged bird. Such a bird is helpless and is most exposed to its enemies. Enemies become opportunistic to one's weaknesses which the author cautions the audience against.
References
Bremer, S. H. (1990). Home in Harlem, New York: Lessons from the Harlem Renaissance Writers. Publications of the Modern Language Association of America, 47-56.
Hutchinson, G., & Hutchinson, G. B. (1995). The Harlem Renaissance in black and white. Harvard University Press.
Hull, G. T., & Hull, A. G. (1987). Color, Sex & Poetry: three women writers of the Harlem Renaissance (No. 430). Indiana University Press.
McLeod, A. L. (Ed.). (1992). Claude Mackay, Centennial Studies. Sterling Publishers.
